Who was Maria la Canastera
María Cortés Heredia, born in Granada on 27 February 1913, dancer and singer known as ¨María la Canastera¨ because her father was a craftsman who made wicker baskets. From a very young age she danced in the zambras of Sacromonte where she became an accomplished artist, making the zambra an artistic and personal profession.
A unique personality
Her first outing as a dancer was at the age of 16 at the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona with Manolo Amaya’s zambra, where she performed with Carmen Amaya for King Alfonso XIII. She shared the bill with La Niña de los Peines, Angelillo, Pepe Marchena, and Pepe Pinto among others. He recorded 19 records of great success in his time and performed on television on numerous occasions.
María la Canastera, considered one of the most representative artists of flamenco in Granada, had an overwhelming personality, an unrepeatable person as anyone who knew her would testify. She is the only gypsy who by popular vote is considered one of the 100 most important people of Granada in the 20th century, an award that makes the family even prouder. At the beginning of the 90’s the Granada City Council gave her name to a square in Sacromonte and in March 2010 a statue of her was placed in the boulevard of the Avda de la Constitución in Granada, together with other illustrious people from Granada, the highest recognition of a humble gypsy in the city where she was born.
Granada with María la Canastera
In the year 2000 the newspaper Ideal de Granada, after a survey of its readers, drew up a list of the hundred most important Granadinos of the 20th century, in which María appeared in a prominent place. In 2008, after the remodelling of the Avenida de la Constitución and the construction of a boulevard, the City Council of Granada decided to pay tribute to 10 illustrious Granadinos by placing a sculpture and thus pay off a historical debt to their memory.
Among those chosen was María, who deserved to be represented for posterity in a privileged place in the city where she was born.
Statue of María La Canastera in the Avda de la Constitución
Discover the legacy of the art of María la Canastera in a unique show
SHOW + DRINK
ADULTS
(From 12 years old)
26 €
SHOW + DRINK
CHILDREN
(From 5 to 11 years old)
20 €
Do you want to discover the true flamenco art of Granada?
Enjoying a flamenco show with the artists who have devoted themselves to the artistic legacy of María la Canastera is not the same as attending a performance in a conventional theatre. The caves, with their white walls and low ceilings, create an intimate and enveloping atmosphere that cannot be replicated elsewhere. This historical and cultural setting adds a unique value to the show, transporting the spectator to another time, where music and dance were the purest forms of expression.
Duration
1 hour
EVENING PERFORMANCES
Usually at 9:00 PM. We recommend that you arrive 20 minutes before the start time.
CAPACITY
55 people
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